What is Wudu? A Step-by-Step Guide to Ablution in Islam     

What is wudu in Islam? Wudu in Islam is an act of purification and worship. It is an essential step to perform before touching the Mushaf and praying.

In this article, we will learn what is wudu in Islam. How to perform it correctly, and more. Let’s get started.

What is Wudu? Understanding the Ritual of Ablution

Many people don’t understand what is wudu and why it is important in Islam. Simply Wudu is a ritual that purifies the body and soul and prepares us for acts of worship like praying and reciting the Quran.

The word Wudu means “purity” or “cleanliness”. In Arabic, it is called “Wudu” (وضوء). What is Wudu in Islam? It is an act that involves washing some body parts in sequence.

How to Perform Wudu Correctly in Islam?

Now that we know what is wudu it is time to learn how to perform Wudu step by step:

1. Intention

The first step in any act of worship is making your intention. Therefore, when performing Wudu start by making your niyyah from the heart or out loud, whatever you like.

2. What is Wudu and its step: Say Bismillah

The second step is saying the Basmallah. After you make your intention say

بِسْمِ اللهِ

Bismillah

In the name of Allah.

3. Wash Your Hands

Now that we know what is wudu, it is time to learn how to perform it. In this step, you should wash both your hands starting with the right hand. Wash them three times up to the wrists, ensuring you wash them thoroughly.

4. What is Wudu steps: Rinse Your Mouth

Take some water in your right hand rinse your mouth and spit it out. Repeat this step three times.

5. Rinse Your Nose

The next step in what is wudu and how to perform it is rinsing the nose. Take some water in your right hand, inhale it, and blow it out. Repeat this process three times.

6. Wash Your Face

Wash your face from the forehead to the chin and from ear to ear. Repeat this three times

7. What is Wudu steps: Wash Your Arms

The next step in what is wudu and how to perform it is washing the arms starting from the hands up to your elbows. Start with the right arm and repeat this three times for both arms.

8. Wipe Over Your Head

This step can be done once or three times.

9. Wash your ears.

Wash the inside and outside of your ears with your hands.

You can combine steps 8 and 9 in one step.

10. Wash Your Feet:

The next step in what is wudu and how to perform it is to wash both your feet starting with the right one. Wash each one three times including the ankles and make sure that the water reaches between your toes.

What to recite after performing Wudu?

Now we know what is Wudu and how to perform it. It is important to know that After Completing Wudu you can recite the following dua:

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

(Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh.)

“I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.”

Or recite the following dua:

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ

(Allahumma aj‘alni minat-tawwabeen wa aj‘alni minal-mutatahhireen.)

Translation: “O Allah, make me among those who repent often and those who purify themselves.”

Why Wudu is Essential for Every Muslim Before Prayer?

To understand the answer to this question it is important to know what is Wudu and its meaning. Wudu in Islam is an act of purifying the body; it is an essential ritual to perform before doing some acts of worship like praying and reciting Quran. Here are some reasons why Wudu is essential for Muslims:

1. What is Wudu: a Fulfillment of a Divine Command

Allah Almighty commanded us in the holy Quran to perform Wudu before offering prayers:

 “O you who believe! When you stand for prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, and wipe over your heads, and wash your feet to the ankles.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:6)

2. Physical Cleanliness.

What is Wudu? It is an act of cleaning the body of impurities by washing parts of the body in sequence starting with the hands.

3. What is Wudu: a Spiritual Purification

Wudu doesn’t just purify the body, it also cleans the soul and washes away the sins. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“When a Muslim washes his face during Wudu, every sin he looked at with his eyes is washed away with the water. When he washes his hands, every sin they touched is washed away. When he washes his feet, every sin his feet walked towards is washed away.” (Sahih Muslim)

4. What is Wudu: a Preparation for Worship

What is wudu? What is not just a ritual it is an act that prepares us physically and mentally for the upcoming worship.

5. Wudu is rewarding.

What is wudu? It is a rewarding act of worship. When we perform Wudu all our sins are washed away. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“Shall I tell you something by which Allah erases sins and raises ranks? Performing Wudu thoroughly despite difficulties…” (Sahih Muslim)

The Spiritual Benefits of Performing Wudu.

What is Wudu benefit? Wudu has many benefits and virtues for the believers. Here are some of them:

1. What is Wudu: Attainment of Purity and Forgiveness

When performing Wudu we purify ourselves and wash away our sins. Our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“When a Muslim or believer washes his face during Wudu, every sin he looked at with his eyes is washed away with the water. When he washes his hands, every sin they touched is washed away. When he washes his feet, every sin his feet walked towards is washed away.” (Sahih Muslim)

2. Prepares us for worship.

What is Wudu’s benefit? One of the benefits of wudu is preparing ourselves physically and mentally for prayers and the recitation of Quran. Reminding us that we are about to communicate with Allah and we shouldn’t let anything distract us.

3. What is Wudu benefits: Elevates One’s Spiritual Rank

What is wudu? Wudu is an act of purification and preparation of the body and mind for worship. Besides that it is a rewarding act of worship and it erases our sins. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Whoever performs Wudu perfectly, their sins will depart from their body, even from beneath their nails.” (Sahih Muslim)

4. What is Wudu: a Shield Against Shaytan

What is Wudu and why is it important? Wudu protects us from the whispers of the shaytan, as it strengthens our faith and purifies our souls.

5. Sign of the Believers on the Day of Judgment

Performing Wudu is rewarding in this life and the afterlife. Our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“My Ummah will come on the Day of Resurrection with bright faces, hands, and feet from the traces of Wudu.” (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Performing Wudu

Now that we know what is wudu and how to perform it we will learn some of the most common mistakes that people fall in:

1. Not making the Intention

Making intentions is one of the main steps of Wudu. However, some don’t know that one should make intentions before performing Wudu, and some forget it.

2. Forgetting to Say Bismillah

Some Muslims are not familiar with the sunnah of saying Bismillah, therefore they don’t recite it.

3. Neglecting Proper Washing

We now know what is wudu and its steps, but some don’t know that it is important to ensure that water washes the body parts thoroughly.

4. Wasting Water

Wasting water when performing Wudu is one of the common mistakes of Wudu. Make sure to use the amount of water that you need and don’t waste it.

5. Ignoring the Proper Sequence

We know what is wudu and that it should be done in sequence. However, some people don’t know the right order or skip a step or two. The right order is:

• Hands
• Mouth
• Nose
• Face
• Arms
• Head
• Feet

6. Overlooking the Toes and Heels

One of the common mistakes of Wudu is not washing between the toes or neglecting the heels.

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Conclusion.

By the end of the article, we now understand what is wudu and its correct sequence. Wudu is a ritual or act of worship that you must perform before holding the Mushaf or performing Salah. It is essential and important for Muslims because it purifies the body and should, prepare the mind for worshiping Allah.

In essence, Wudu is a prerequisite for prayer that embodies the values of cleanliness, discipline, mindfulness, and obedience to Allah. By performing it, Muslims ensure they are spiritually and physically ready to stand before their Creator in humility and devotion.

You can also reach out to the qualified professionals at Ulum Al-Azhar for assistance in learning Wudu and how to perform it.

FAQs

What breaks wudu?

The following acts break and invalidate Wudu:

• Using the restroom.
• Passing gas.
• Sleeping deeply.
• Losing consciousness.
• Touching private parts with bare hands.

How do you perform wudu for a woman?

Whether women or men there is no difference when performing wudu, just follow the right steps:

• Intention
• Saying Bismillah
• Washing the Hands.
• Mouth
• Nose.
• Face.
• Arms to the Elbows.
• Wiping the Head.
• Washing the Feet.
• Reciting the Shahada

How many hours does wudu last?

Wudu lasts until you break it, there is no specific number of hours.